Drain apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus is described which is adapted for draining fluid from containers and into a collection vessel. The containers to be drained, and the collection vessel, are supported and retained by the apparatus.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to apparatus for draining fluid from containersinto a collection vessel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fluids that are packaged and sold in containers such as cans, cartonsand even glass or plastic jugs and bottles are convenient for thepurchaser to handle, transport and store. However, at the time of use ofthe container or package it is usually not convenient or possible toremove the entire fluid contents of the container because a portion ofsuch contents remains adhered to the interior surfaces of the containeritself. Prolonged inversion of the container over a period of hours ordays is usually sufficient to enable gravity to cause the remainingcontents to drain out of the container but this requires that thecontainer remain unattended for a long period of time.

Various devices have been previously proposed for draining oil fromconventional quart oil cans. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,253,504;2,728,488; 3,192,970; 2,071,944; 2,575,809; and 2,365,533 each describegenerally vertically disposed draining racks and funnels on which oilcans may be placed for a period of time in inverted position. The oilfrom the cans is then collected in drums, pails or pans placed under therack. Such vertically disposed devices, however, require a considerableamount of space. For example, they must either be positioned in a cornerof a building or room or they may be secured to a wall and extendupwardly, and outwardly at the bottom, for a few feet. This, of course,may present a safety hazard since it projects into ordinary work space.Although the drain devices shown in FIGS. 9-12 of U.S. Pat. No.3,192,970 are not designed to be vertically disposed during use, thosedevices do not include a front wall as required by the presentinvention. Those devices do not provide the advantages which areprovided by the apparatus of the invention. For example, the priordevice is not designed to permit stacking of containers. Furthermore,the clips which hold the containers may retard the flow of fluid ifimproperly placed, and if they become bent they may not sufficientlysecure the container. The nature of the clip is such that the containerand clip must be properly aligned for use. Moreover, the prior devicedoes not provide means for attachment of a collection vessel.

A rather elaborate and costly device is described in U.S. Pat. No.2,199,970 which is a combination oil salvage, refuse container anddisplay rack. In this device an oil can is inverted and held within awire framework. Oil which drips from the can is collected by a pan whichin turn drains to a large pail or receptacle contained within thedevice. Another elaborate and costly device is described in U.S. Pat.No. 2,191,488 which is a combination display rack, draining device andcrushing apparatus. In such device an oil can is fitted with adetachable spout when the can is inverted so that the oil in the canwill drain to a sump and then through a pipe to a large containersituated within the device. After a can has been drained it may beplaced in another portion of the device to be crushed.

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,230,180 there is described another device forreclaiming oil which includes a diamond shaped housing with an openingat the bottom end and a threaded cap secured thereto. The threaded capenables the device to be threadably connected to a collectionreceptacle. Inverted oil cans fit over finger members on two sides ofthe device.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,369,982 describes a combination display rack and drainstand in which an inverted can is placed on a rearwardly sloped shelf.An opening between the sloped shelf and a rear wall enables the rearedge of the shelf to pass through the rear wall. Accordingly, when oildrains from the can onto the shelf, the oil also goes past the rear wallinto the interior of the drain stand. The oil then drips off the rearedge of the shelf into a large funnel and thence through the funnel intoa receptacle within the drain stand.

An oil recovery stand is also described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,643,030 inwhich inverted cans are supported by hooks within the stand. The oilthen drips into a collecting pan.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention there is provided improvedapparatus for draining fluid from a container of the type having anopening at the top and for collecting the fluid in a collection vessel.The apparatus comprises:

(a) rear wall means adapted to support the top end of the container;

(b) front wall means adapted to support the container between its topend and its bottom end;

(c) a floor extending between the rear wall and the front wall, thefloor being sloped toward a drain point;

(d) drain means at the drain point which is adapted to permit the fluidto drain off the floor; and

(e) supporting means for supporting a collection vessel below the drainpoint.

The rear wall and the front wall cooperate to engage and retain thecontainer in a tilted condition above the floor so that fluid from thecontainer may drain from the opening at the top of the container and becollected in the collection vessel by the force of gravity.

This apparatus is very compact and may be mounted on a wall, forexample, in a manner such that only a small amount of wall space isrequired. Thus, it is not necessary to utilize a corner of a building orroom nor is it necessary to utilize several feet of vertical wall space.Accordingly, the apparatus of this invention may be fastened to a wallat any convenient location, e.g., above a work bench, counter, etc.Further, the apparatus does not project into the work space so as tocreate a safety hazard. The apparatus may also be attached to hooks onconventional peg board, for example.

The design of the apparatus is such that it is useful for draining awide variety of common fluids from containers, e.g., molasses, oils,syrups, sauces, honey, ketchup, etc. The apparatus may also be adaptedto support and drain containers of various sizes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in more detail hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to thesame parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of apparatus of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of apparatus of theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of apparatus ofthe invention; and

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of yet another embodiment ofapparatus of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Thus in FIG. 1 there is shown apparatus 10 of this invention comprisingrear wall 12, front wall 14, and floor 16 extending between rear wall 12and front wall 14. Floor 16 is sloped toward one end of apparatus 10.Apertures 13 through rear wall 12 near the top thereof serve asconvenient means to mount apparatus 10 on a wall, peg board or the like.

Rear wall 12 and front wall 14 cooperate with each other to engage andretain one or more containers 20 in a tilted condition above floor 16 sothat the bottom of the container is supported at a level higher than thetop such that fluid from container 20 may drain from an opening in itstop and be collected in collection vessel 22 attached and supportedbelow the drain point in the apparatus. The drain point of the apparatusis at the lowest point of floor 16. In FIG. 1 the drain point is at oneend of the apparatus, as shown. In this embodiment openings 17 throughfloor 16 at the drain point permit the fluid to drain into vessel 22located directly below it. If desired a screen or filter may bepositioned in or over the drain to filter out undesired materials. It isalso possible for the apparatus to have more than one drain point, ifdesired.

Rear wall 12 includes forwardly projecting retention means comprisingbar or ridge 11 which extends lengthwise along the face of rear wall 12.Bar or ridge 11 is adapted to engage the top rim or edge of a containerand hold it in position as shown. Front wall 14 preferably includesnotches along its top edge for the purpose of receiving and supportingthe container between its top end and its bottom end. The top edge ofwall 14 is generally horizontally disposed with respect to theapparatus, as shown in the drawings. The notches along the top edge ofthe front wall may be semi-circular (as shown in FIG. 1) V-shaped (asshown in FIG. 3), serrated (as shown in FIG. 4), or any other suitablestyle, as desired.

In the arrangement shown in the drawings, because of the relativelyclose proximity of the front wall to the rear wall, the container isheld and supported in cantilevered fashion such that the top edge or rimof container 20 is urged upwardly against the protruding ridge or member11.

The collection vessel 22 may be the same type of container as that beingdrained, for example. Vessel 22, having a top rim or edge of slightlygreater diameter than the main body of vessel 22, is thereby adapted tobe supported and retained on spaced track members 23 carried on theunderside of floor 16. Other arrangements for attaching the collectionvessel to the apparatus are also possible.

Rear wall 12 preferably slants toward the front wall 14 at its lowerend. If desired, the rear wall may contact the front wall at the bottomso that a V-shaped floor is defined.

It is also convenient to include holding means on the rear wall to holdancillary tools or equipment. For example, hook or finger members 18 and19 affixed to the rear wall are useful for holding a spout or openerused to open the containers which later will be drained in theapparatus. A spout or opener may also be retained on the apparatus bymeans of a loop or holster, if desired.

The apparatus may be adapted to hold any desired number of containers tobe drained. It is also possible to stack additional containers on top ofa row of containers retained in the apparatus. In this manner additionalcontainers may be drained without having to increase of the length ofthe apparatus. For example, the apparatus may be designed to accommodatethree containers in a lower row and two containers in a top row restingon top of the lower row. This enables the apparatus to be extremelycompact in design while still having large capacity.

The apparatus may be made of metal, plastic, or other suitable material.When using metal it is preferred to coat it with plastic. For example,it may be hot dipped in plastic in accordance with known andconventional techniques.

It is also possible to include a cover member with the apparatus toprevent dirt, dust and debris from getting into the fluid being drainedfrom the containers. For example, when draining edible fluids it may bequite desirable or even necessary in some environments to include acover member which either lifts off or is hinged at the top or bottom ofthe apparatus.

In FIG. 2 there is shown another embodiment of draining apparatus 30 ofthe invention. In this embodiment the retention means on rear wall 12comprise individual ear members 32 which project forwardly from rearwall 12, as shown. This Figure also illustrates a spout or opener 34supported on rear wall 12. In this embodiment the fluid drains off theleft end of the floor through apertures 27 in end wall 28. Collectionvessel 22 is retained on the underside of the floor of the apparatus byspaced track members 25 in a manner such that the opening in the top ofvessel 22 is aligned under apertures 27.

In FIG. 3 there is shown another embodiment of draining apparatus 40 ofthe invention. In the embodiment the floor 42 slopes downwardly fromeach end to a drainpoint at the center. Collection vessel 22 issupported by the underside of floor 42 under the drain point. The frontwall 44 in this embodiment includes V-shaped notches along the top edgethereof which each receive and support a side of a container to bedrained. In this embodiment hook or finger members 45 and 46 have beendie cut along three sides from rear wall 41 so that they may be bentforwardly by the user.

In FIG. 4 there is shown another embodiment of draining apparatus 50 inwhich the top edge of front wall 51 is serrated. When the side of acontainer rests on the top edge of wall 51 the serrations assist ininhibiting rolling or transverse movement of the container on theapparatus. Spaced track members 23 carried by the underside of the floorare adapted to retain a collection vessel.

Other variants are permissible within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for draining fluid from a container ofthe type having an opening at the top thereof and for collecting saidfluid in a collection vessel, said apparatus comprising:(a) rear wallmeans adapted to support the top end of said container; (b) front wallmeans adapted to support said container between its top end and itsbottom end; wherein the top edge of said front wall means includes anotch which is adapted to receive one side of said container; (c) afloor extending between said rear wall means and said front wall means,wherein said floor is sloped toward a drain point; (d) drain means atsaid drain point which is adapted to permit said fluid to drain off saidfloor; (e) supporting means which is adapted to support said collectionvessel below said drain point;wherein said rear wall means and saidfront wall means cooperate to engage and retain said container in atilted condition above said floor whereby said fluid from said containermay drain from said opening at the top of said container and becollected in said vessel by the force of gravity; wherein said apparatusis adapted to be mounted on a wall.
 2. Apparatus in accordance withclaim 1, wherein said rear wall means includes forwardly projectingretention means which is adapted to engage said top end of saidcontainer.
 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said rearwall means and said front wall means are adapted to engage and retain aplurality of said containers simultaneously.
 4. Apparatus in accordancewith claim 1, wherein said floor slopes toward one end of saidapparatus.
 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said drainmeans comprises at least one aperture extending through said floor. 6.Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said floor slopes fromeach end thereof toward the center of said floor.
 7. Apparatus inaccordance with claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises metal coatedwith plastic.
 8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidapparatus comprises plastic.
 9. Apparatus for draining fluid from aplurality of containers of the type having an opening at the top thereofand for collecting said fluid in a collection vessel, said apparatuscomprising:(a) rear wall means having forwardly projecting retentionmeans; (b) front wall means spaced from said rear wall means, whereinthe top edge of said front wall means is horizontally disposed withrespect to said apparatus; and wherein said top edge includes notchestherealong which are adapted to receive a side of each said container;(c) a floor extending between said rear wall means and said front wallmeans, wherein said floor is sloped to a drain point; (d) drain means insaid floor at said drain point which is adapted to permit said fluid todrain through said floor; (e) supporting means carried by the undersideof said floor which is adapted to support said collection vessel belowsaid drain point;wherein the top portion of each said container isengaged and retained by said retention means on said rear wall means,wherein the front wall means supports each said container in a mannersuch that each said container remains tilted sufficiently for fluid ineach said container to flow out the top thereof by the force of gravityonto said floor and thence through said drain means into said collectionvessel; wherein said apparatus is adapted to be mounted on a wall. 10.Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said floor slopes towardone end of said apparatus.
 11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9,wherein said drain means comprises at least one aperture extendingthrough said floor.
 12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, whereinsaid retention means on said rear wall comprises a projection memberextending along the length of said rear wall.
 13. Apparatus inaccordance with claim 9, wherein said apparatus comprises metal coatedwith plastic.
 14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein saidapparatus comprises plastic.
 15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9,wherein said rear wall includes protrusions adapted to support a spout.16. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, further including a covermember adapted to cover said apparatus.
 17. A method for draining fluidfrom a plurality of containers, each of which has an opening at the topthereof, the method comprising the steps of:(a) providing apparatus inaccordance with claim 10; (b) providing a collection vessel; (c)attaching said collection vessel to the underside of said floor; (d)tilting each said container in a manner such that the top thereof isengaged and retained by said retention means on said rear wall and eachsaid container is supported between its top end and its bottom end bysaid front wall means; and (e) permitting said fluid to drain from saidcontainers onto said floor of said apparatus and thence through saiddrain means into said collection vessel.